The Russian ISS Progress 51 cargo ship undocked from the International Space Station’s Zvezda Service Module June 11, clearing the way for the scheduled arrival of the European Space Agency’s “Albert Einstein” Automated Transfer Vehicle to link up to the same port June 15. The Progress 51 craft was launched on April 24 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and docked to Zvezda on April 26. The Progress will remain in orbit for several days well away from the station to enable Russian ground controllers to conduct engineering tests with the vehicle before it is deorbited to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

During a sit down interview with NASA’s Public Affairs Manager Rob Navias, CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield reflects on the success and circumstances of his five-month long-duration mission, Expedition 34/35. Credit: NASA

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For me personally Chris has helped create the most excitement about Astronomy, Space Travel, the Sciences, and all that those entail more than anyone in a long time. Something the Space Program sorely needed.